Events

This week I have been asked to participate in #GuruChats, a bi-monthly event on Twitter for startups, small businesses, digital marketers, graphic designers, web designers and design creatives. I am uber excited to be involved with this amazing organization and I look forward to the chat. I love Twitter chats because they help me to get to know the real people behind the profiles on social media platforms. I a learn, make friends (not just “build relationships”) and I have had the opportunity to express my opinions and share my knowledge and experience with other people around the world in a way that I never thought possible. And you can, too!

Here is the plan for the LogoDesignGuru.com chat:

Once your business website is up and running, the real challenges and opportunities start. You want to target and convert customers, while be in the good books of search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing as well. So how do you do this? In this #GuruChats we’ve invited Elena Terentyeva to give us the lowdown on how small businesses and startups can use SEO and SEM to optimize their online presence, boost their reach and garner customers through traffic.

Elena Terentyeva is Product Marketing Manager at SEMRush, an SEM/SEO company. She also has extensive experience in public relations, content, finance and broadcast journalism.

If this is your first time on a Twitter chat here are some guidelines you might find useful:

1. You may use Twitter.com to follow our chat by using the hashtag #GuruChats in the search bar or you can use Tweetdeck, Tweetchat or any other Twitter aggregators to simultaneously interact with participants and follow the chat, again searching for #GuruChats.

2. Since people will be following the chat even way after the scheduled hour, be sure to include the hashtag #GuruChats when you comment or answer a question or interact with tweeters.

3. Twitter restricts users by the number of characters you can use in each tweet. This means you’ll have to condense your idea or thoughts within a 140-280 characters limit. A smart way to go about this is pre-draft your answers or use visual aids, such as an image.

4. On the day of the chat be sure to log in 5-10 minutes before the scheduled time to get ready and be prepared for any glitches.

5.Your host at #GuruChats will start off by launching questions one by one specific to the topic in this order Q1, Q2, Q3 etc. You may answer the questions as they are posted or schedule your answers according to the time they’re posted. Mark your answers as A1, A2, A3 etc. to correspond to the respective question numbers so people will know which question you’re answering to.

6. Feel free to interact with other participants, give tips, ask questions, answer questions or any kind of knowledge you feel like sharing during the chat. Be sure to add #GuruChats with your every tweet.

Check out the chat live and join in the conversation, or check back here to see my answers along with a longer discussion and my thoughts on SEM and SEO and how I use this in my strategy for MizMeliz.com as well as all my business online when I share my answers next week in a new blog post.

Intention

When we meet up with Melissa Reyes on her show, Inspiring Adventures on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. PST LIVE on Facebook.com/BubblrMedia we’d like to discuss our upcoming ConnectHER Media Conference in Las Vegas, August 4 – 6. This will be our 6th annual women’s business conference and our first 3-day event outside of Southern California.

We are both passionate about helping other women succeed. We like providing networking and educational opportunities for entrepreneurs.

We both are motivated by our daughters. We want to show them that being a great parent and strong businesswomen aren’t mutually exclusive.

Laura Filipowicz, CEO ConnectHer Media

“Our core philosophy is based on relationship marketing. Whether your business is well established or if you are just starting out, this is a great place to meet fellow MOMpreneurs as well as, women entrepreneurs. It is a place you can gain ideas, contacts, and develop business relationships. Our company thrives on providing your business with visibility among it’s readers. It also provides you with a platform to communicate with professionals through Networking Socials, Exclusive Innovative Events and the MUST attend – Annual Women in Business Conference. All areas of our company is designed to assist in delivering value to your business. We welcome professionals from all business industries.” ~Laura Filipowicz, ConnectHer Media

Inspiration

Two years ago, when I was first invited to attend ConnectHer15, I was so impressed. I sat at a table near the back of the room. I thought to myself, “Wow, these speakers are great!” I had just finished my book and I was fairly confident that I wanted to be a leader in this community.

I signed up as soon as I could to be a speaker the following year. I was selected to present at a round table discussion at ConnectHer16 which was bigger and better than the year before. Again, I sat at a table surrounded by women I have gotten to know through the years, thoroughly inspired. I loved leading a round table (I did the presentation on using video to promote your business three times that day!) At the end of the day I walked up to the gorgeous stage, I sat on the plush purple sofa, surrounded by pink balloons and I imagined myself being on that stage. I took a few selfies up there.

I believe that when you envision it, you can make it happen. I am excited about being on a panel about video at ConnectHer 2017! I am just starting to wonder, who and what will inspire me there for the next step in my journey?

On behalf of myself, MizMeliz.com and BubblrMedia, I wish to thank Stacey Barker at JadeUmbrella PR and Assal Ravandi of the Academy of United States Veterans for orchestrating the Red Carpet Interviews and The World Premiere of “Not A War Story” at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Fri., June 30, 2017! (Please see my disclosure to learn why I post articles like this one on MizMeliz.com. This is not sponsored, nor was I compensated. I was not asked to write a review or post a story about the experience and all opinions are my own.)

It was a pleasure to be among the reporters asked to to be involved in the coverage of the world premiere of “Not A War Story,” the documentary behind “Range 15,” the movie made by veterans for veterans. It was a unique opportunity to show support and appreciation for the Hollywood experience as well as pride and patriotism, in consideration of the surge of heroes who walked the red carpet.

You are invited to see all the video footage from the Red Carpet event on

“Last Night’s Show with Miz Meliz”

Friday, July 7, 2017 at 8:30 p.m. Pacific time at BubblrMedia on Facebook!

On Fri., June 30, 2017, military and entertainment became one as the Academy of United States Veterans (AUSV) hosted the world premiere of Not A War Story at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, located at 8949 Wilshire Blvd ― Beverly Hills, CA 90021. A Pixela Pictura Production presented by top military apparel brands Ranger Up and Article 15.

Through support, promotion and recognizing Veteran service organizations, Veterans programs and Veteran owned businesses nationwide; the AUSV illuminates the work of like-minded groups such as those behind-the-scenes of Not A War Story. Their goal is to maximize collective impact through collaboration and cooperation within the veteran community and Hollywood for this film.

#NotAWarStory is the Behind the Scenes Documentary of Range 15, the most highly decorated military movie of all time w/ cameos by William Shatner, Danny Trejo, Sean Astin, Keith David, Leroy Petry, Clint Romesha, Marcus Luttrell, UFC Fighters Tim Kennedy and Randy Couture, and more. Not A War Story is a feature length documentary directed by Tim O’Donnell and produced by Nick Palmisciano about the military veteran community, their aspirations and the craft involved in the making of Range 15, an independent narrative film produced by military veterans released in summer 2016. It became an instant cult classic that showed in nearly 800 theaters nationwide and charted #1 on Amazon and #2 on iTunes in the summer of 2016.

BubblrMedia’s debut coverage on the Red Carpet was made possible in part with help from Assal Ravandi, President of the Academy of United States Veterans

Proceeds from the premiere of Not a War Story event will benefit Gallant Few501c3, whose mission is to prevent veteran isolation by connecting new veterans with hometown veteran mentors, thereby facilitating a peaceful, successful transition from military service to a civilian life filled with hope and purpose. Also, the Warriors Heart® Foundation, treatment provider to adult men and women 18 and older who are seeking inpatient treatment for chemical dependency, alcohol abuse, and co-occurring psychological disorders relating to PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or the psychological effects of MTBI (mild traumatic brain injury).

Melissa Reyes and Brooke Lewis – Life Coaches “bonding” on Hollywood Moments with a Cause!

Not A War Story, Review by Melissa Reyes

Not a War Story was a crazy behind the scenes look at what it takes to make a film, in Hollywood, in a short amount of time, against all odds, with veterans, seasoned and amateur actors, a limited budget, and no experience. Sounds pretty ridiculous, huh? Well add to that the film it is about is Range 15 – a satirical indie military movie about zombies. Is it funny? Yes. Is it worth seeing? Absolutely! But maybe not for reasons you would expect. The comedy is dark and might not be for everyone. That goes for the original film as well as the documentary which begins with a very lewd scene about the making of a particular body part being blown off. That was the opening. Sets up the whole thing. Excellent planning on the part of director, Tim O’Donnell!

The point of the documentary I believe is to bring to light the passion of the filmmakers and the purpose behind the making of the film. It gave a voice to the veterans who need to be heard. Many supporters came to see a documentary about war vets who were suffering from PTSD and recovering from tragic injuries. Most were prepared to cry tears from despair, yet may have ended up crying tears brought on by hilarity. Because a lesson was taught from the actors in the film and the people who shared their stories in the documentary, the veterans themselves – get over it. Life is short. Things happen. Amputees and burn victims are people too. Humor and video games are fun for everyone. If we all just laughed at ourselves about how dumb we look trying so hard all the time, maybe things wouldn’t seem so bad. If we all paid a little more attention to the needs of those who risk everything for our safety maybe we would all be a little happier to begin with.

Temecula, Toyota, and Tranquility, Our Weekend Getaway

Let me tell you about my experience at the Temecula Valley Wine & Balloon Festival sponsored by Toyota Latino #LetsGoPlaces #VayamosJuntos…A huge thank you to Toyota Latino (check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram ) for hosting me and Lito on this amazing weekend getaway and giving me the opportunity to review the Prius Four! Please see my disclosure for details on why I post articles like this on MizMeliz.com. It was my pleasure to share my experience with you, all opinions are entirely my own (with some input from Lito.)

I am excited about getting away for the weekend! Let’s go!

Temecula

It was time for a romantic weekend getaway! Lito and I have lived in Southern California all our lives. We have been married twenty-five years. Can you believe we have never been to the Temecula Valley? It is just a short three hour drive from our home in Los Angeles (depending on traffic) and we have heard about how amazing it is, but we had not been there. So, when we got a chance to get away for the weekend and check out the 34th Annual Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival, it sounded like a dream!

Driving out to the festival felt like getting away from it all!

The Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival is the perfect combination of many of my favorite things. Lito and I had a great time there! I felt like a kid when I walked through the gates! It was like a fairytale.

Taking the drive in the 2017 Toyota Prius Four was magical from the start. I had fun driving it. Lito took the pictures and we posted on Snapchatalong the way. After a long day of doing errands around town, stopping at the dentist – which happened to be the only thing we couldn’t reschedule that day, grabbing lunch and making our way to Temecula, we finally were on the road to the festival. It was a long and windy road. (giggles) It was! Imagine it, a beautiful sunny and warm day, great music, a fun car to drive, my hunny by side and I am on my way to enjoy the best wine, listen to live bands (Bush, The Gin Blossoms) and see giant helium balloons light up the night!! It was a dream for me!

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If you have a chance to go to the annual Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival, I highly recommend it. There is plenty to do there, even camping by Lake Skinner within walking distance. (Actual walking distance, the same as you would do from the parking lot – not hiking or having to take a shuttle, the campgrounds are right there.) I mention this because I wouldn’t have thought of a Balloon Festival/wine event as a family outing at first. However, there is plenty to do for the whole family. The festival part did not disappoint. The food and entertainment, craft fair booths, live music, and of course The BALLOONS would keep the kids happy and occupied while you taste wine and beer from the region to your heart’s content. Everything was clean, beautiful, well controlled, and very well organised.

The vineyards and estates that lined the road on the way to the festival were breathtaking!

There are two stages with bands playing almost non-stop over the three days of the festival. There are balloon ride packages available. There are wine tasting packages or you can have a single taste, all purchased separate from the admission ticket. There are plenty of options for meals. Make sure you have cash! Although most of the booths and vendors accept credit cards, the remote location has some limitations with internet connection. This made it difficult for the card readers to work, and the ATM machines also could not function in some spots.

Cheers!

I have to admit, I’m not that in to wine these days. In our younger days Lito and I did our fair share of wine tasting and enjoyed learning about wine. I can’t drink a lot of wine now because of dietary restrictions, or shall we say…lifestyle choices. I found it very easy to have a single taste while at the festival and there were volunteer stewards there to help me choose just the right thing. For my celebratory selection, I went with a peach champagne. It was c’est magnifique! If you are a wine aficionado, this would be a great place to try all the wines of the region in one location. Every winery in the area was represented. It was impressive. Check out the website for more details.

Toyota

I was so excited to have the opportunity to experience the Prius Four – with an EPA-estimated 54/50 MPG. With advanced materials, an innovative design, Prius promised to deliver the perfect drive. It turned out to deliver much more!

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Even though I had driven the Prius all day on the way to the festival, it was on the way out of the parking lot that I really got acquainted with all the features this model has to offer. We sat in the car for over two hours as the thousands of automobiles were slowly ushered out of the multiple parking areas through that one windy road we came in on. We looked at it as a positive since we had a great vehicle that was equipped for this kind of thing, we were actually charging the battery as we sat listening to music, reading the manuals, and playing with all the buttons and dials! We didn’t have to worry about turning off the engine, wasting fuel, or putting out emissions. It was pretty cool.

Here are my Five Favorite Things About the Prius Four:

It Feels Like a Car – I never drove a hybrid before this and it wasn’t at all what I thought. It felt like a car. It didn’t feel like an electric golf cart. It was sturdy, great to drive, it had power, I loved the steering and handling, and I felt safe in it. The doors are heavy, the base is solid. It did have that “whirrr” sound when accelerating like a ride at Disneyland, which was strange. I usually drive a Jeep Wrangler, so nothing about that sounds cute! I liked that this Prius did not need to be “plugged in” to charge. It was everything I would expect from a vehicle, with more ways to save energy.

Light Leather Interior – Living in a part of the country that gets temperatures of 80-100 degrees most of the time, I appreciate a cool interior. I also love leather. The two together are usually a disaster on a hot day. Not so with the Prius Four – I imagine it was the color that made the difference. It was very stylish with white on black. The dashboard was very modern and state of the art – futuristic even! I liked the crisp angles and large lettering and numbers. The design was fresh, from the fabric, to the little touches of metallic edges infused into the design that gave it a retro feel.

Blind Spot Assist – The design of the Prius Four creates a big blind spot and Toyota has a great feature that I was skeptical about at first. I like to look over my shoulder and see what is next to me and behind me. It didn’t take long to get used to the indicators on the side-view mirrors that let me know if there was something in my blind spot. That really helped.

It’s Roomy – The Prius Four is a hatchback with lots of cargo space. It also has a lot of leg room and felt comfortable. It is a small, mid-sized car, yet I would enjoy having it as a commuter car that I could use for long trips as well as family outings.

It’s Sporty and Cute! – Not just because the Prius Four that I reviewed was “Hypersonic Red” but the design is pretty cool. It’s sleek and sexy. The tail lights have a unique design. Lito called it my spaceship! We definitely enjoyed all the features the 2017 Toyota Prius offers!

Tranquility

Toyota thought of everything when they treated us to this little getaway. We stayed at the Pala Casino Spa and Resort.

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After all the driving, balloons, and wine tasting, we were ready for some rest and relaxation! I’ve heard of some other Indian Reservation casinos in the Temecula Valley area before but I was not familiar with Pala. It was off the highway a bit, but that added to the adventure. It is a smallish hotel and casino and reminded me a little of “old Las Vegas.” Lito and I got some ice cream and walked around the gaming tables and slot machines after we got back from the wine and balloon festival. We thought about trying our luck. We ended up not playing because we really feel like winners already! We were very lucky to have this fun weekend together with all the activities, transportation, and lodging provided. We felt truly blessed. I didn’t want to risk losing any of that!

In the morning we walked around the beautifully landscaped grounds of the resort. We checked out the pool and cabanas. We took a little peak in the spa gift shop. I did a Facebook Live tour (see below) to share the experience. It was a very nice morning. I enjoyed my stay and would return to Pala anytime. The room was luxurious and spacious. Next time, I will try the spa services!

They have live bands perform in the center of the resort, as you can see them setting up in the video. This would be a great all inclusive destination for any occasion. It is especially nice because it is close to the Temecula Valley wine country and Oceanside, which is a beautiful seaside town in North San Diego County. We ended our trip with brunch in Oceanside and took some beautiful photos with the pier in the background. It was a great day!

Listening to ’80s music all the way home, played on Sirrus XM by Richard Blade, brought us back to our younger days for sure. The entire weekend in Temecula, with Toyota, gave us just the tranquility we needed to recharge our battery and enjoy the fun summer ahead!

A huge thank you to Toyota Latino (check them out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram ) for hosting me and Lito on this amazing weekend getaway and giving me the opportunity to review the Prius Four! Please see my disclosure for details on why I post articles like this on MizMeliz.com. It was my pleasure to share my experience with you, all opinions are entirely my own (with some input from Lito.) I was under no requirement or obligation to post this on my blog, nor did I receive any compensation for doing so. I was invited to drive the 2017 Toyota Prius Four for one week. We were treated to an overnight stay at the Pala Spa and Casino Resort, received a gift of $150 in Visa gift cards for gas and expenditures and two (2) general admission tickets to The Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival. #ToyotaLatino #Prius #VayamosJuntos #LetsGoPlaces

Having recently attended the Masters of Taste event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA where about 80 restaurants and vendors came together to honor and support the Union Station Homeless Services in Los Angeles, I am impressed with the extent of social good the industry is able to accomplish.

In addition to raising over $450,000 for the organization and showcasing their culinary expertise, many of the restaurants and businesses represented exemplified their own ways of giving to the community.

Those amazing chefs and business owners have instilled a giving spirit and inspired many young up and coming entrepreneurs in the making. I am proud to share the future of the culinary arts field with you from the Los Angeles Careers Through Culinary Arts Program!

LOS ANGELES COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

TURN FLOUR INTO GOLD

OVER $680,000 IN CULINARY SCHOLARSHIPS

AND OPPORTUNITIES AWARDED BY

CAREERS THROUGH CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM (C-CAP)

(Los Angeles, CA), Wednesday, May 10, 2017: Thirty-eight outstanding culinary students from Los Angeles County public high schools were awarded scholarships to continue their culinary studies on May 1, 2017 by Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) at its annual Los Angeles Region Awards Breakfast hosted by the Jonathan Club, L.A.’s premier social club located in Downtown Los Angeles. C-CAP President Karen Brosius, alongside C-CAP Los Angeles Program Director Lisa Fontanesi and Culinary Program Coordinator Gail Carney, awarded over $682,700 in scholarships and opportunities to the students.

These scholarships were awarded to high school seniors to attend local culinary schools and some of the most prestigious culinary schools in the country. Some students also received C-CAP Education Scholarships that help defray the costs of books, supplies, housing, and other expenses while at community college or another culinary school.

During the C-CAP Los Angeles Cooking Competition for Scholarships held on April 28, 2017, top finalists representing high schools in the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District, Baldwin Park Unified School District, Glendale Unified School District, William S. Hart Union High School District, Los Angeles Unified School District, Oxnard United High School District, Pasadena Unified School District, and Rowland Unified School District competed against the clock from memory when C-CAP re-created the intensity of a restaurant kitchen atLos Angeles Mission College, forthe high school seniors to face off in an savory and sweet cooking challenge. Students were judged by a panel of local esteemed judges on the presentation of their dishes, knife skills, techniques in the kitchen, taste, sanitary food handling, and timeliness.

The C-CAP Cooking Competitions for Scholarships are hosted across the country and are the culmination of the C-CAP high school program for underserved teenagers at risk of leaving high school without a job or college prospects. The C-CAP program offers a wide set of opportunities including exposure to the restaurant/hospitality business, a set of useful life skills, scholarships, and the potential for a fulfilling career in a vibrant industry.

In addition to the culinary school scholarships awarded, C-CAP awarded Erik Ildefonzo (2015 Alumnus) from Carson High School, a full-tuition Alumni Scholarship towards his Bachelor’s Degree in the Culinary Arts and he will study at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. C-CAP also announced the 2017 Meatless Monday Recipe Contest Los Angeles-based and national grand prize winner at the ceremony. The scholarship was presented to Adrian Gonzalez from L.A.C.E.S for his Three Sister’s Stuffed Squash dish. C-CAP high school students from around the country were invited to create an innovative meatless noodle dish. Through the contest, students are introduced to the Meatless Monday public health initiative.

Led by chef Marcus Samuelsson as board co-chair, Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) transforms the lives of underserved high school students around the country by helping them pursue their culinary dreams. C-CAP, founded by culinary educator Richard Grausman, prepares talented teens for college and careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry through its enrichment program including job training, paid internships, scholarships, and college and career advising. For more information visit, www.ccapinc.org.

Sometimes the stars align and I am in the right place at the right time! There may be hope for me yet, perhaps I won’t ALWAYS be A Day Late and a Dollar Short! In fact, life has been pretty good lately and it seems I have been doing a lot of cool things. I don’t believe in luck. I also believe my stars have always been lined up just right. The fact is, I am ready for this. It is my year to rock this – My Year in Bloom! I am my happiest, healthiest, and best self – so that means I get to do the things I love doing!

I present to you one of those things. Celebrations.

Happy Birthday Live.Me!

LOS ANGELES, May 3, 2017 — Live.me, the live broadcasting app, celebrated it’s one year anniversary with an award celebration in a swanky Bel-Air mansion on Saturday April 29th in Los Angeles. Hundreds of Live.me broadcasters were in attendance at the invite-only event which also included appearances by recording artist Kesha, FaZe Banks, FaZe Nikans, RiceGum, Macy Kate, Diego Navarette(Diegosaurs), Nick Bean, Sam and Rosa Pottorff, Andrew Fontenot, and dozens of other social media stars.

“Good News!”

The highlight of the event for me was seeing this great Los Angeles band, Ocean Park Standoff.The lead singers may seem familiar to you because they have been in the headlines in recent years and are now in the hottest new band making their rounds on TV shows. They performed on NBCs Live Today on February 22nd and on May 2nd on CBS’ Late Late Show with James Corden. Soon they will be on my show! I interviewed them for Bubblr Media and will show you the video exclusively on Last Night’s Show with Miz Meliz!

Ocean Park Standoff Perform at the Live.Me Birthday Bash

Ocean Park Standoff, the latest need-to-know LA pop rock band led by Ethan Thompson, Samantha Ronson, and Pete Nappi, performed a handful of songs live, including the hit single “Good News.“

Touring this summer with a few of my favorite bands, Third Eye Blind and Silversun Pickups, Ocean Park Standoff is taking flight! Super stardom is in the works as the band’s new EP is being released this week. It will definitely be my favorite music to take me into the summer months!!

Ethan Thompson looked so familiar to me and I realized when I met him that it was from watching him on American Idolin 2014. He sang his original songs on Idol and has always been known for writing songs with a positive message. (Yeah, my kind of guy!) DJ/Singer-songwriter Samantha Ronson is a well-known musician on the Hollywood scene known for her video and music talent along with her brother Mark Ronson. Pete Nappi, the band’s producer and drummer is best known as a writer, producer, composer and artist who specializes in pop writing/production and film scoring. (Is that all?)

On Target!

Contortionist and America’s Got Talent finalist Sofi Dossi performed a routine which included shooting a bow and arrow using only her feet. @sofiedossi

Sofie Dossi’s breathtaking performance at the Live.Me Birthday Party

I was floored by the amazing performance by Sofie Dossi! She is self taught! Can you believe that? Well, you wouldn’t believe it if you saw what she did on that stage! I will show you the video on my show so be sure to check it out on Last Night’s Show with Miz Meliz on BubbrMedia!

Live.me has celebrated many successes in its first year, including becoming the highest grossing live broadcasting app in the US, recognized a handful of broadcasters for achieving various milestones throughout the year. The list of winners includes:

Queen of Hearts Award: SavageWinter – 1337 [Most hearts received in a single broadcast with 3,977,141 hearts]

“A year ago, it was hard to imagine Live.me would break through in the way it has, but it’s a testament to our strong community of live broadcasters and how much the live video format has been embraced by all types of creators,” said Khudor Annous, Head of Marketing & Partnerships for Live.me. “We’ve got some exciting surprises in store for this next year and big plans to continue to reshape the future of mobile broadcasting.”

The party included sponsors Heineken and Hint Water, and music by DJ William Lifestyle, co-founder of the charity HashtagLunchbag. To recap the first year of activities and broadcasters, a brand new video was debuted and can be seen on Live.me‘s YouTube page:

About Live.meLive.me is the fastest and highest grossing live broadcasting platform in the U.S. The app has been downloaded by more than 21 million people, including creators of all formats and interests, to connect with others and earn virtual goods that can be exchanged for prizes, rewards, and cash. More than 200,000 hours of live video are broadcast daily on Live.me.

Shout out and a Special Thanks to my friends Kristy Gillentine @KrisGillentine and Chris Strub @ChrisStrub for introducing me to Live.Me and to Andrea Slaydon of Drive West Communications for providing all the information I needed to make this blog post awesome! Disclosure: I was not paid to post this, all opinions are my own, and I was sent an invitation to attend the party as a guest. For more details on why I post articles like this here on my blog, please read my full Disclosure. Thanks!

Los Angeles, CA – April 6, 2017 –Dynamic Off-road Racing announced that it has entered into an agreement with Christine “GZ” Giampaoli Zonca, a well-established Italian Rally driver based in Barcelona, Spain, to be its new lead driver. She will be driving the newly added CAN-AM X3 highly modified UTV.

Originally hailing from Italy, born in India, and living in the Canary Islands, GZ has finished her studies in Motorsport Engineering in the United Kingdom (Birmingham), opened her own mechanic workshop and finally turned over completely her life to race in Spain; CGZ competed, and won, in 2016 the Spanish Rally Gravel Championship, a few races of the Spanish Tarmac Championship and one race of the World Rally Championship (WRC RallyRACC), and was the first ever driver on a female-only team to finish a WRC race.

“ChristineGZ and her Co-driver Luy Galan, have the unique skills of transitioning to UTV class from Rally racing in Europe. Her co-driver, unlike Christine, has racing in the DNA; All family members compete in Rally and have always raised this passion with extreme significance.

“We are exceptionally thrilled to have Christine and Luy showcasing their talents in the upcoming UTV World Championship April 13-15 in Nevada. In addition to the Best in the Desert Series, Christine will be driving the Baja 500 and Baja 1000 for Dynamic Off-road Racing,” says Paul Kraus team Co-Owner.

Dynamic Off-Road Racing (DYOR) races CAN-AM Turbo 1000 Mavericks, CAN-AM X3s and will have a rider on the KTM 450 in Vegas to Reno.

For more information on these and other team developments, please contact Paul Kraus at 310-691-9098 or email atdorrmedia@gmail.com

Instagram:@DynamicRacing

Facebook:Dynamic Offroad Racing

Twitter:@DynamicOR

We hope to see Christine and Luy and all the members of the Dynamic Offroad Racing Team on Last Night’s Show with Miz Meliz, coming soon on BubblrMedia!

The Holiday Hullabaloo is a group coaching experience which guides you through the hustle and bustle of the holidays with grace, patience, support, and love.

Join by sending a private message to me on social media or email me at MizMeliz @yahoo .com You will receive an invoice via Paypal for $25. Upon payment you will have full access to the private Facebook Group, weekly one on one sessions with me via phone or Skype, and daily inspirations in your email inbox – for six weeks.

Here is what some of the group members said about the Holiday Hullabloo Group last year:

“I love the way you speak. You’re so calm and clear in everything that you say. You listened to every word I had to say and you were very helpful with my situation. I like how you tied in stories of your own to give me examples and tips that would motivate and inspire me.”

“I really appreciated how easy it was for us to schedule a time to talk – you are so great about being flexible with your time. And being able to have sessions over the phone was such a blessing for a busy mother of two! You are a very good listener but also skilled at not letting me ramble on – you knew just when to be quiet and when to speak up to keep me focused, move us forward, or hone in on a point. You have a very good memory and were able to connect dots from our different conversations. I also truly felt you were sincere – when you told me my work was meaningful and valuable, I believed you and it made me stop devaluing what I did and see my work in a new light. Your sincerity and caring is real and is much appreciated!”

“You are very in tune with such a vast variety of people, from all walks of life. You truly care about your friends, and I always feel good after visiting your group:) Definitely a great listener, and you know how to give advice without ever making someone feel bad; you can address the flaws or issues, but keep it positive.”

“I felt the advice you gave and the tips and tricks to handle the stress of the season to be great insight and helpful. I like how you would listen to others approach or ideas and gave your insight on them. I liked that you were open to anyone and wanting to help.”

“I love your voice, it’s very calming…”

“My experience was pretty good! The coaching met my expectations – I want to continue and I will refer you to others because I see some improvement in how I feel.”

Join now and get $5 off, and as a special bonus – refer a friend and get 50% off – that will be $15 each, or $30 for you and your friend can join for free. Join any time within the six week period, however if you join after October 21st – the total is $30 per person.

The Holiday Hullabaloo is a six week coaching experience to help you get through the holidays. I guide you through the stresses, sadness, doubts, and fears that are associated with this time of year. I offer hope, support, understanding, openness, guidance, and acceptance. As a coach and a friend, I can show you how to move through this time of your life with joy and ease.

I teach simple and effective ways to feel happier and more in control of your emotions and how to be accountable for your intentions. I live my life day by day using mindfulness techniques and cognitive behavior therapy practices such as breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, and prayer. More than that, I show you how to experience and practice these things in a simple, effortless way, that anyone can do – and I show you how it can change your life for the better.

Membership includes:

Access to a members only “Secret” Facebook Group.

Daily motivational posts and insights straight to your email box and on Facebook.

Paint with Heart presents: Smoke on the Water

…or more like a Lazy, Hazy Lake View.

Why I love Paint with Heart

Every week for the past four months, I have met Cindy online for a two (or more) hour art lesson. But it is so much more than that. It has been a way to develop our friendship while learning from each other. As the “show” gains popularity, one might think that it wouldn’t be as much fun for us because we are giving up our intimate down time we have enjoyed so much. But you know what – not at all. We love having more people to share and paint with. It is just as exciting as when we first began. Cindy comes up with new projects to work on every week. We are meeting people, being creative, and doing all the things we do best. This is our weekly chance to shine and sparkle! Come hang out with us and you will see what I mean! Our fun summer is coming to an end, but we have a lot in store for you for the fall and winter months ahead. ~Melissa Reyes

Let’s close this summer with reflections of special moments.

Transform a cigar box into a memory box to hold your collection.

This week we will be painting on a cigar box.

We will be painting a picturesque landscape with a foggy effect.

Join us on Thursday, Sept 1st @ 8 pm Eastern / 5 pm Pacific in the Zoom Room – but don’t click on it until Thursday!https://zoom.us/j/860342796

Tinsel Town: Live Streaming Tips #ConnectHer16 Part 2

I had a wonderful day in Manhattan Beach with the community I am a part of through Connect Her Media! Here are my photos and some commentary:

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Here are the questions that I received during the three round table sessions that I moderated at the ConnectHer16 Conference:

To see a video and notes about each part of my presentation, please see Part 1 of Tinsel Town: Tips for Livestreaming #ConnectHer16

How do I optimize and reuse content?

How do I deal with spotty internet connection?

Where/what is the best platform for community growth?

Personal or Business Page for Facebook Live, which is better?

How do you set goals for yourself in livestreaming?

How important is niche?

How do you best store videos when you don’t have a lot of space left on your phone?

What do I do about my glasses? I need them to read the comments, but not to see the faces.

How do you handle speaking during a live chat (stream) when you are at a performance and potentially interfering with (the live experience for people present) it?

Produced vs. in the moment?

How to get viewers to a spur of the moment Facebook Live Broadcast?

Optimizing and Reusing Video Content Created From Live Streaming is Easy.

Most videos are available for replay instantly after the live feed has ended. In many cases, you can (and should) save the video to your phone, camera, laptop, or whichever devise you are using. It is often a one step process to upload the video directly to You Tube. From there it can be embedded on your website/blog. If you are using Facebook Live, you can share that video across your pages, groups, and events. Once the content is on your devise, and/or on You Tube, you can share it to any and all social media platforms you like. To optimize the live stream video content, be sure to use hashtags, keywords, titles, and links. I always add a hashtag and a Twitter handle to the title of a video so when it is shared, I will get a notification. I love to see when it gets a like or re-tweet!

It is Time to Learn About What Your Livestream Platform of Choice Requires for Internet Connection, Speed, and Frequency.

I got by with not knowing anything about Internet Speed, Bandwidth, Servers, Routers, Ping Tests, and the difference between Streaming, Downloading, and Uploading just fine until I started my own live broadcast show. Now, I have had to become familiar with these terms and know how to ask for what I need to make my shows happen. I just couldn’t accept that my laptop wouldn’t let me make great content with clarity and ease like other people could. I finally understood the difference when I took the time to educate myself. It’s not that hard.

If your location or situation absolutely cannot change and you want to stream live on Facebook, or anywhere else, don’t worry. I have some suggestions for you. Here are some tips to make what you have now work better:

Make sure no one else is using any computers, game consoles, TVs, phones, or smart devices in your house at the time you are going live.

If all else fails, find a place with strong WiFi to stream from – try it outside or at a coffee shop, hotel lobby, mall, college campus, or restaurant. Remember to ask for the Wifi access code – most places will be happy to let you use their WiFi for free.

Once you evaluate your household’s usage you and you know what your overall need is, you can test your speed to see what you have available using this Speed Test.

Honestly, I still don’t really know what all this stuff means, and I don’t think I need to know. But I do know what to ask for if I have a problem and troubleshooting is something that a live stream broadcaster gets used to really fast. Hey, if things go wrong, you can always say, “It’s LIVE folks!”